Device for fittng and cutting sweat-bands for hats.



No. 153L978. I Patented Aug. 29, I899. w. H. BABNUM.

DEVICE FOR FITTING AND CUTTING SWEAT BANDS FOB HATS.

(Application filed Jan. 9, 1899.)

I IIIIIIiTIHIIIIIIII Iii )LIII m: mums vrrsas co. vnoiauma. WASHINGTON. 17.5.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM HILL BARNUM, OF DANBURY, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR OF ONE HALF TO HENRY F. CLARK, OF SAME PLACE.

DEVICE FOR FITTING AND CUTTING SWEAT-BANDS FOR HATS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 631,978, dated August 29, 1899. A umitn filed January 9,1899. serinuo. 761,659. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM HILL BAR- N UM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Danbury, in the county of Fairfield and State its object to provide an efficient and durable means for cutting a sweat-band to an exact and proper size irrespective of any imperfections in the size of the hat itself; and with these ends in view my invention consists in certain details of construction and combination of parts, such as will be hereinafter fully explained and then specifically be designated by the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this application, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improvement; Fig. 2, a plan view thereof, and Fig. 3 a sectional elevation.

Similar numbers of reference denote like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

I-Ieretofore the manner commonly practiced of fitting sweat-bands to hats has been to place the band inside of the hat and to conform it thereto with the hands and then to mark the band, so that when out the edges will abut. Also machines have been contrived for cutting and fitting sweat-bands; but such machines are more orless intricate, and the process of cutting and fitting sweatbands thereby is somewhat slow and tedious.

My improvement aims to cut and fit a sweatband to the proper and desired size without any reference whatever to the hat itself, as-

will be clearly understood from the following description.

1 is a block of a general ovoidal shape in cross-section and tapered, so that its diameter gradually decreases from the bottom toward the top, and 2 is any suitable base portion which meets the block 1 at a line curved to correspond with the general rise and droop of a hat-brim.

The sweat-bands are originally cut on a curve, so that when they are placed within a hat they will follow the line of junction be tween the crown and brim, and these sweatbands are made with one edge finished, while the other edge, which is to be stitched within the hat, is left unfinished as a rule.

In using my improvement a sweat-band is wrapped around the block 1, so that the unfinished edge of such band follows closely the line of junction between the base 2 and said block, while the ends of the band'are lapped one over the other at one end of the block, which latter I will designate as the rear end. The blocks are made to conform exactly to the various sizes of hats, and a different block is used for each size, so that it will be clear that when a sweat-band is wrapped and closely conformed around a block and then cut so that its ends will abut there will be provided a sweat-band which will perfectly fit within a hat of the designated size. It will be noted that the block is tapered mostly at its front end, the taper then going around toward the sides and then gradually decreasing, and the object of this is to provide for the cushion efiect, which is effected by leaving the sweat-band perfectly free and unsupported at its inner portion within a hat. At the front end of the base 2 I provide means for clamping the sweat-band and for printing thereon the proper size,while at the other end of said base is suitable cutting mechanism, both of which I will now describe.

3 are ears parallel with each other and secured to the base 2, and between these cars, near the bottom thereof,is pivoted a clampingdog 4:. v

5 is a spring -actuated pin which bears against the bottom of the dog 4:, so as to render the forward movement of said dog resilient, while the dog when completely thrown back is retained in this position by the force of the spring. This construction, just described, with respect to the action of this spring-pin on the dog is extremely ordinary and will be readily understood without further explanation. I

6 is the tail of the dog, by means of which the same is manipulated, and 7 is an car on the dog, the function of which will be presently explained.

It is very desirable to print the size upon the sweat-band, so that the fitter may know the proper size when attaching these bands within hats, and I therefore have provided any suitable type, either of rubber or metal, upon the face of the dog, which I will designate by the numeral 8, this type of course designating the desired size. per portion of the ears 3 is pivoted a bar 9, which carries an inking pad 10 at its inner end and on the bottom face thereof. llis an ordinary spring secured to one of the ears and bearing against the bottom of this bar, so as to normally keep the latter in elevated position. Pivoted between the ears at a point below the bar 9 is a lever 12, the upper end of which is loosely pivoted to the outer extremity of the bar 9, while the lower end of this lever is within the operative field of the ear 7 on the dog as the latter is swung away from the block. As the dog swings backward the ear 7 will strike against the lowerend of the lever 12, which will force the pad 10 down against the face of the dog and ink the type. When the dog is thrown forward, the spring 11 will throw the pad upward, and as the dog strikes against the sweat-band the type will print thereon the propersize. It is necessary to clamp the band at the front end in order that there may be no slipping or displacement when the band is wrapped around the block, and the printing of the proper size on the band without any extra work on the part of the operator is a great saving of time and is, moreover, a great convenience, andsince differentsized bands are fitted, cut, and the size printed thereon on different blocks it follows that there can be no mistake made in the size of the bands or in the stamping of the same.

At the rear end of the block aslot 13 is cut from top to bottom, and within this slot is se cured in any ordinary manner a stationary cutterknife 14, while a lever 15 is pivoted near the bottom of the base 2 and carries the other cutter-knife 16, this lever being pro-' vided at its upper end with any suitable han' dle 17. The operator wraps the band 18 around the block with the ends overlapping at the rear of the block and operates the dog to clamp the band at the front of the block. then operates the lever 15 so that the knives will'cut the band, and the ends of the latter are then united by any suitable plaster prior to stitching within a hat.

It frequently happens that the hats them-.

selves vary in size, owing to the fact that they are not of uniform thickness; but this varia-l tion cannot be detected except by trying the hat upon the head or by means of suitable blocks; but when it is attempted to fit asweatband whose size has been determined by means of my improvement within a hat of a supposedly-like size the band, if scant, may readily be stitched within the hat by proper ithin the up- He I manipulation of the latter, so that .the size of size desired. Hats that are really smaller than the designated size may readily be stretched so as to accommodate the proper sweat-band, the latter being used as the test in all instances because its size is known to be absolutely correct.

Of course any suitable cutting mechanism maybe employed instead of the arrangement which I have shown and described, and I do not therefore wish to be limited in this respect.

What I do claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A device for fitting and'cutting sweatbands for hats, comprising a tapered'block and a base which meet in a line which conforms to the line of junction between the crown and brim of a hat, means for clamping the band at the front of the block, and suitable cutting mechanism located at the rear of the block for severing the overlapping ends of the sweat-band, substantially as set forth.

2. A device for fitting and cutting sweatbands, the same comprising a tapered :block and a base which conform to the desired size of hat and which meet in a line corresponding with the line of junction between the crown and brim of the hat, a clamping-dog located at the front end of said base whereby the band is secured, as against slipping, to said block, a stationary knife secured within the rear of said block, and a lever pivoted to the rear of the base and carrying a knife, whereby when said lever is operated the sweat-band will be cut to the predetermined size, substantially as set forth.

3. A device for fitting and cutting sweatbands for hats, comprising a tapered block and a base which conform to apredetermined size of hat and which meet in a'line corresponding to the line of junction between the crown and brim of such hat, a clamping-dog carrying a type-numeral which designates the proper size of the hat, a suitable inking-pad controlled and operated by the movements of said dog whereby said type may be inked preparatory to the operation of thedog to clamp the sweat-band to said block, and suitable cutting mechanism located at the rear of said block and base whereby the sweat-band may be out exactly to the predetermined size, substantially as set fort 4. A device for fitting and cutting sweatbands, comprising a tapered block anda base which are conformed to a predetermined size of hat, a clamping-dog pivoted at the front end of said base and provided with, an ear and an elongated tail and carrying on its face a type-numeral designating the desired size of hat, a spring element which operates to throwsaid dog firmly against the block whereby the sweat-band is clamped thereto, the pivoted bar carrying on the under side of its inner end an inking-pad, the spring which IIO a d J bears against the under side of said bar, the band is out to the desired size, substantially pivoted lever loosely connected with the outer as set forth. 1 0

end of said bar and having its forward ex- In testimony whereof I affix my signature tremity within the field of operation of said in presence of two Witnesses.

5 ear when the dog is swung away from the WILLIAM I-IILL BARNUM.

block whereby said type is inked, and suit- IVitnesses: able cutter mechanism located at the rear end WM. M. STARR,

of said block and base whereby the sweat- ROBERT SAYER. 

